New Church Architecture: St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Wake Forest, North Carolina

The architects at O'Brien and Keane, based out of Arlington, Virginia, are a firm that we have featured here before and today I wished to share a specific project they recently completed in Wake Forest, North Carolina, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church.  This particular project is not a 'before and after' but rather a new church entirely. According to the architects, the design of the parish "takes its cue from the beauty and strength of Romanesque Catholic church design, the tradition of American Catholic architecture, and the medieval precedents of Tuscany."

Now Romanesque revival architecture is always something I have a great deal of interest in, because it seems to me to be one of the architectural styles that is most achievable as well as striking in our time. The design in question follows the traditional, triple-naved Roman basilica model as you will see, and even includes small details like terracotta coloured roofing -- meant to be an echo of actual terracotta roof tiling that one sees in historical Italo-Roman examples. Paired with this is also a beautiful limestone coloured brick -- echoing quarried stone -- as well as beautiful medieval Italian like details on the facade and bell-tower. 

As we look to the interior of the church, it is nothing short of compelling. The design includes all the usual sorts of design features that one would expect to find in traditional ecclesiastical architecture of this sort and even without the benefit of further interior artistic decoration -- something that typically requires further time and financial investment happening over the course of generations -- one is certainly not left with any feeling of anything lacking as the foundational design is beautiful and fulfilling in its own right.  

The sanctuary includes a beautiful triumphal arch with the Latin words, "Hoc est enim Corpus Meum" (This is My Body). Also seen here is the 'altar of sacrifice' and 'altar of reservation' (the latter coming in the form of a traditional high altar with reredos) as well as an altar rail and traditionally oriented sedilia -- wonderful to see.

Located to either side of the crossing are two small transepts and located down the length of each of the secondary naves are a beautiful series of statuary of saints set into niches. 

Finally, we would be remiss to not mention that the church also has a beautiful chapel for Eucharistic adoration.

The project in question is certainly impressive and I would urge you to consider visiting the website of O'Brien and Keane if you'd like to learn more. 

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